Fascinating Frogmouths

Mount Helen, Victoria

I've recently spent two days in Mt Helen, a quiet leafy suburb on the southern outskirts of Ballarat, located approximately 10kms from the regional city centre. During the day, I've been tucked up behind the soundproof walls of Homestead Studios, recording sousaphone on Horns Of Leroy's second album. Come nighttime, I was permitted to sneak away (after a 2.50am finish mind you!) to indulge in a bit of spotlighting. So, grabbing the camera, spotlight and a nice woollen hat, I drove off into a very cold misty night.

I didn't have to travel far until I found my first nocturnal delight of the evening. A Tawny Frogmouth sat perched on the transmission lines located almost immediately adjacent to the studio. It was a mannerly bird, who perched nonchalantly in the pitch black, surveying me with large honeyed eyes. It appears to be a male bird, with obvious extending bristles continuing above its bill. The bird allowed me to photograph, observed and approach for ten minutes before I left it in peace.

I travelled away from the studio and into the lower foothills of the surrounding remnant forest and farmland. It was a very still and beautiful, and pearly moon crept out from amongst the clouds. Soon, soft sleet began to drizzle down onto woodland. As I rounded a corner, I spotted my next prize in the form of a rather large dumpy Tawny Frogmouth. This one was perched low to the ground and seemingly unfazed by the deluge. It was a lot darker than the previous bird, almost a browny/grey as opposed to the very obvious silvery/grey first bird. This suggested to me it was a female, as females of this morph are often darker with more rufous mottling than the male. Females of races strigoides (which is the local race here) and phalaenoides (North Aus) may also have a grey or rufous morph.

Tawny Frogmouth a much loved species to birders and 'muggles' alike. Spectacular and royal, the Tawny Frogmouth is common visitor to suburban gardens and the outback alike. They are considered to be one of the countries most effective pest control birds with the bulk of their diet consisting of nocturnal insects, as well as a variety of invertebrates including small mammals, reptiles, frogs and even birds. Unfortunately, living in close proximity to human settlements, they are at higher risk to exposure to pesticides, insecticides and rodent poisons.

The night continued on and thankfully the precipitation didn't last for an extended period and was more-or-less cleared by 4.00am. Beginning to feel the affects of a long day in the studio and very late night, I decided to head back to the studio to get some rest. On the way back, I ran into one more Tawny Frogmouth, who perched up in a fork of a tree near the Canadian Plantation on Olympic Avenue. Overall a very successful night out! Unfortunately, no Southern Boobook or native mammals, but still great to see a number of these polargiformes out an active.

Do you have a local Frogmouth in your backyard? Tell us about it in the comments!